Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CRUSHING

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees were exposed to the conditions listed below: Ludington Net Project at the Ludington Pumped Storage Plant in Ludington, Michigan on or about May 5, 2003, during routine maintenance of the fish barrier net project a Broderson IC200-3D 15 ton crane (ser # 00112779), positioned on the jack up bardge in Lake Michigan was used to set in 200lb pilings, the operator was not trained in the operation of mobile cranes. There by exposing employees to hazards of being struck or crushed by the crane. According to the American National Standard Institute ASME B30.5a-2002 Addenda to ASME B30.5-2000"Mobile and Locomotive Cranes" Chapter 5-3: "5-3.1.2 Qualifications for Operators. Operators shall be required to successfully meet the qualifications for the specific type cranes which they are operating... (b) Operator requirements shall include, but not be limited to, the following: (1) evidence of successfully passing a physical examination as defined in para. 5 3.1.2(a); (2) satisfactory completion of a written examination covering operational characteristics, controls, and emergency control skills such as response to: fire, power line contact, loss of stability, or control malfunction, as well as characteristic and performance questions appropriate to the crane type for which the qualification is sought; (3) operators shall demonstrate their ability to read, write, comprehend and exhibit arithmetic skills and load/capacity usage, in the language of the crane manufacturer's operation and maintenance instruction manuals; (4) satisfactory completion of a combination written and verbal test on load/capacity chart usage that covers a selection of the configurations (that the crane may be equipped to handle) for the type of crane for which the qualification is being sought; (5) Completing an operation test demonstrating proficiency in handling the specific type crane, including both pre-start and post-start inspection, maneuvering skills, shutdown, and securing procedures; (6) operators shall demonstrate understanding of the applicable sections of the B30 Standard and federal, state and local requirements. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard is to require all personnel that will be crane operators to be formally trained in the operation of the crane he/she shall operate and pass an examination of sufficient content to assure competency.